''I'm very happy with the almost 10,000 people that showed up there tonight. Great game for them to witness,'' he said.

''We're very happy we have supporters and hope to see an even bigger crowd next time we're back home.''

With the Giants game kicking off at 4.40pm and the Raiders starting nearly three hours later, a committed group of fans of both codes took in both games.

The Raiders issued a cheeky press release on Friday headlined, 'Come and see Canberra's local Giants', with a photo of their four front-rowers - David Shillington, Dane Tilse, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Brett White - in a not-to-subtle dig at their cross-town rivals.

The Giants play three games in Canberra every year as compared to the 12 of the Raiders and eight Super Rugby games for the Brumbies.

It was the first time this season the Raiders have failed to attract

at least a crowd of 10,000.

Their first home game against the St George Illawarra Dragons was watched by 12,115 fans, while 10,969 were on hand to see the Raiders beat the Roosters 24-22 last Sunday.

The Giants' next match in Canberra is against the Gary Ablett-led Gold Coast Suns on Saturday week.''When you see a player like that, he's a draw card, he's a draw card like Black Caviar,'' Sheedy said.

''When you get draw card players people [come], there's only 'x' amount of chances to see him in Canberra live.''

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14 Apr
GREATER Western Sydney youngster Dylan Shiel had boasted the Giants would run St Kilda off their feet earlier in the week, but it was the older Saints who were able to do exactly that on the wide open Manuka Oval on Saturday.